Running Shoes  Parts and Features

When buying a pair of Running Shoes, it is important to be familiar with its parts and features to make it easier for you to communicate with the retailer. That way, he or she could help you better in finding the right pair according to your foot type and running event, among other things.

There are several basic parts of a Running Shoe that will be discussed in this section. They are the following:

Toe Box  It should have enough room for you to wiggle your toes. It is important to consider that because your feet tend to expand after you run.

Outsole  This is the rubber portion of your shoes underside. It provides you with the traction you need depending on your running event. For example, Trail and Fell Runners have different needs from Marathoners in terms of traction. Aside from that, the outsole also absorbs the shock every time you run. Good shock absorption is important as it lessens the possibility of injuries due to running.

Upper  The upper portion of the shoe is made of leather or other breathable synthetic material. The ideal type of material used for your shoe may depend on the type of running activity that you plan to use it for.

Midsole  It provides your feet with the much-needed stability, and like the outsole, it absorbs the shock on your feet whenever you run. The midsoles of some shoes are made up of ethyl vinyl acetate or EVA, a bunch of tiny bubbles which provides extra shock absorption as compared to those made of other materials.

Heel Counter  The heel counter provides support and stability to the heel. Heel strikers, or those whose heel lands first when running, will particularly benefit from this shoe part.

Insole  This composes the inner portion of the shoe. It provides your feet with the cushioning it needs. You could replace it with orthotics if your feet have special needs like Motion Control for people with flat feet.

Now that you are familiar with the different parts of your Running Shoes and their corresponding features, you are now ready to dig deeper and know about the different Types of Running Shoes. With that and the other succeeding sections, you will be able to know which pair is best for you even before you go and shop for it.